By Maxwell Kumoye who was in Gaborone
The global sprint spotlight shone brightly on Gaborone as the World Relays delivered a thrilling showcase of speed, precision, and national pride.
By the time the baton had made its final exchanges, 72 teams had stamped their authority and secured qualifications for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 2027.
Among the standout performers was Team Nigeria, whose relay squads rose to the occasion with composure and confidence, clinching three coveted qualification spots.
It was a performance that blended youth and experience with hunger. Near perfect baton changes, explosive acceleration phases, and a clear sense of purpose from start to finish.
Against all odds and a fiercely competitive field featuring the world’s best relay nations, Nigeria’s achievement did not come easy. Each race demanded near-perfection, and the margins between qualification and heartbreak were razor-thin.
Where they were offered a second chance, they grabbed it with both hands, despite a flurry of late withdrawals.
Yet, when it mattered most, the Nigerian teams delivered, executing under pressure and proving their growing strength on the global stage.
For the first time in decades, the Nigerian team in Botswana was dominated by home base athletes —four of them, secondary school students— and they did not disappoint.
The atmosphere in Gaborone matched the intensity on the track, with fans treated to dramatic finishes, unexpected upsets, and moments of pure athletic brilliance.
For many nations, this was more than just a relay meet; it was a gateway to Beijing, where the stakes will be even higher.
For Team Nigeria, however, the job is only half done. Securing three tickets is impressive by any standard, but it also sets expectations.
With the World Athletics Championships Beijing 2027 on the horizon, attention now turns to preparation, refinement, re-enforcement and the pursuit of podium finishes.
The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, is confident of an improved performance for the team.
"It's a very young team and with the addition of some A-List athletes who missed the trip to Gaborone, I'm confident of a much more improved performance from the team," Okowa stated.
Before heading to Bejing, Team Nigeria Athletics will next be in Accra, the Ghanaian capital for the CAA Senior Athletics Championships starting on the 12th of May, the 4×100m mixed relay will also be in attendance at the maiden edition of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary in September.
In between Accra and Budapest, AFN will be assembling another star-studded Team for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, in August.
Most athletics stakeholders said the outing in Gaborone is impressive and big and absolutely signs that better days are on the horizon.
A former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria who was in Gaborone, Chief Solomon Ogba was very impressed with the team's outing.
"I'm happy with the results recorded here and I strongly believe that this will get better with each race,” he said.
"With the addition of the likes of Rosemary Chukwuma, Blessing Ogundiran, the women's sprint will be a delight to watch and for the men Kanyinsola Ajayi and Isreal Okon will make the team stronger,” Chief Solomon Ogba, who is a senior Vice President of Nigeria Olympics Committee said.
The Technical Director of the Federation, Gabriel Okon, were not perfect but their zeal and desire to engrave Nigeria's name in the history books was not in doubt, the athletes were full of praise for the backroom staffs for a job well done.
It's imperative to state that the National Sports Commission (NSC), supported the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), all throughout this impressive outing.
But in the world of elite athletics, this is just the beginning.
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